Method of manufacturing electrostatic condensers



Feb. 20, 1934. R, E. CARLSON I 1,943,331

' METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTROSTATIC OONDENSERS Filed Dec. 31,1929

Patented Feb. 20; 1934 METHOD or MANUFACTURING Emc'rnos'ra'rrc oosmmssns Richard Edison Carlson, Downers Grove, 11]., al-

lignor to Western Electric Company, Incorpyorrakted, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Application December :1, 1m Serial No. nut:

Claims. (01. 175-41) This invention relates to a method of manufacturing electrostatic condensers, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing electrostatic condensers of the paper and metal foil 6 rolled type.

In the manufacture of condensers of the rolled type, it has been the practice heretofore to wind on an arbor sheets of tinfoil interposedbetween sheets of paper, until a predetermined number of turns thereof have been wound to produce the desired final electrical capacity. Following this operation, the condensers have been arranged in a rack or tray andsubjectedto an impregnating process, after which the condensers were subiected to a predetermined pressure applied'horizontally.

Objects of this invention are to provide a simple, eillcient, and practical method of producing electrical condensers.

According to the objects of the present invention, the condensers are subjected to a predetermined pressure prior to their being impregnated, but are maintained compressed during such impregnation after which the impregnating compound is allowed to solidify while the condensers are still retained under pressure.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description and the accom-' 4o condensers as disclosed in the drawing is composed of a compressor 10 which is mounted on a suitable frame 11 and which consists of a cylinder 12 closed at its ends by end plates 13 and 14. A two-way piston 15 is movably disposed in cylinder 12 and is provided with a plunger rod 16 which extends through the end plate 13 and a packing gland which is carried thereby. A plunger head 18-is mounted on the outer end of the plunger rod 16 for a purpose hereinafter described. Air lines or pipes 19 and 20 each have one of their ends-disposed in communication with the cylinder 12 through the end plates 13 and 14 respectively, while the other ends of the air lines or pipes 19 and 20 are connected to a valve 21 air supply line 22 is in communication with the valve 21 and is arranged to supply air under pressure to the cylinder. The valve 21 is provided with arcuate shaped passageways 25 and 26 which are arranged to connect the air lines 19 and 20 with the supply pipe 22 or to connect the air lines 19 and 20 with an exhaust opening 2'1. A pressure gauge 23 is in communication with the air supply line 22 through a pipe 24 for indicating the pressure of the air in the cylinder.

The frame 11 is provided with substantially U- shaped supporting members 28 which are adapted to support a rack 29, and an abutting member 30 against which one end of the rack 29 is disposed. The rack 29 is provided with a bottom 30 portion 31 for supporting a plurality of condensers 32 and their spacing plates 33, and side members 34 for holding the condensers and plates against lateral displacement.

When producing the condensers 32 in accordance with this invention they are wound in the usual manner and placed by the operator within the rack, with their ends resting upon the bottom portion 31. The condensers are arranged in layers within the rack and two nickel-silver plates 39 are disposed between each layer. The rack with the condensers and the separating plates 33 is then disposed upon the frame 11 with one end adjacent the abutting member 30 and the other end disposed so that the plunger head 18 may 35 enter an opening 35 within the rack. While in this position the valve 21 is actuated by a handle 36 which is moved from the dotted line position into the full line position shown in Fig. 1. This movement of the valve will allow the air under pressure to pass from the supply pipe 22 through the arcuate shaped passageway 26, the air line 2 0, and into the cylinder 12. thus forcing the piston 15 toward the end plate 13 and forcing the plunger into the frame through the opening 35 and against the contents thereof. While the valve 21 is in this position the air upon the opposite side of the piston 15 will be allowed to escape through the air line 13. the passageway 25, and the exhaust opening 27. The condensers are subjected in this manner to a pressure which is not sufllcient to weaken the dielectric strength or specifically to a pressure of approximately 150 pounds resulting in a pressure of approximately 30 pounds per square inch on the sides of each unit or condenser which has approximately 5 square inches of surface. It should be understood, however, that the amount of pressure may y'ary with the type of condenser employed.

After the desired amount of pressure has been applied to the condensers, wedges such asthose indicated at 37 are disposed between the end of the rack and the condensers so as to retain the pressure. The plunger 18 is then removed from the rack by moving the handle 36 into the dotted line position and actuating the valve 21 so as to allow the piston to return to its normal position. The rack of condenser units are then removed from the frame 11 and placed in a carrier which is transferred to an impregnating tank (not shown), which consists of chambers internally heated by means of steam plates. The condensers are baked under atmospheric pressure for at least condensers are thus impregnated under an absolute pressure of not more than inch mercury for at least two hourswith the temperature remaining as stated above. The vacuum is then released from the units while remaining in the' compound for approximately five minutes under atmospheric pressure and thereafter the compound is discharged from the tanks. After the condenser units have drained slightly, they are removed to a hydraulicpresswherein they are subjected to pressure suflicient to take up the contraction of the units. as they cool. In this press the units remain without substantial pressure until they cool to approximately 210 F. and thereafter a pressure of approximately 12 pounds per unit is applied until they are cooled to 205 F., when the pressure is raised to approximately 18 pounds and retained at this pressure until the temperature is reduced to 200 F. Again the pressure is increased to 30 pounds per unit and the condensers are allowed to cool under this pressure to 140 F. after which the rack 29 is removed and units are separated.

The application of a predetermined pressure to the condensers, prior to, and the retaining of the pressure during, the treating and baking steps of this method, coupled with the subsequent application of pressure, which is increased, during the cooling of the condensers, increases the capacity of the condensers approximately 18 per cent. The increase in the capacity of the condensers,'by this method, not only makes it possible for condensers of a desired capacity tobe manufactured smaller in size, so as to require less space during .use, but reduces the cost of the condensers in view of the fact that less material is required in producing the condensers of the desired capacity. Furthermore, with this method of manufacture, condensers may be increased in capacity without increasing the size thereof.

While the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment thereof, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is: i

l. A method of manufacturing condensers which consists of applying a preliminary pressure to the condensers, heating the condensers to expel moisture and gases, impregnating the condensers, cooling the condensers to a predetermined temperature without substantial pressure, and then applying pressure until the condensers are completely cooled the preliminary pressure being higher than the final pressure.

2. A method of manufacturing condensers which consists of applying a preliminary pressure to the condensers, heating the condensers to expel moisture 'and gases, impregnating the condensers, cooling the condensers to a predetermined temperature without substantial pressure, and then applying an increasing pressure until the condensers are completely cooled the preliminary pressure being higher than the final pressure.

- 3. A method of manufacturing condensers which consists of applying a preliminary pressure to the condensers, heating the condensers,

applying a vacuum to the condensers during heating to expel moisture and gases, impregnating the condensers", cooling the condensers to a predetermined temperature without substantial pressure, and then applying a pressure during the remainder of the cooling operation the preliminary pressure being higher than the .flnal pressure. 7

4. a method of manufacturing condensers which consists of applying a'preliminary pressure to the condensers, heating thev condensers, applying an increasing vacuum to the condensers during heating to expel moisture and gases, impregnating the condensers, cooling the condensers to a predetermined temperature without substantial pressure, and then applying a pressure during the remainder of the cooling operation the preliminary pressure being higher than the final pressure.

5. A method of manufacturing condensers, which consists oi applying a high preliminary pressure to the condensers, heating the condensers under the high pressure, impregnating the condensers, cooling the condensers to a predetermined temperature, and then applying a relatively low pressure to the condensers during the remainder of the cooling operation the preliminary pressure being higher than the final pressure.

6. A method of manufacturing condensers which consists of applying a preliminary pressure to the condensers, baking the condensers, impregnating the condensers at the residual pressure remaining from the preliminary pressure, cooling the condensers, and applying pressure during the cooling of the condensers the preliminary pressure being higher than the final pressure.

'7. A method of manufacturing condensers which consists of applying a pressure in the vicinity of thirty pounds per square inch to a condenser, heating the condenser to expel moisture and gases, impregnating the condenser, cooling the condenser, and applying a relatively lower pressure to the condenser during the cooling operation.

8. A method of manufacturing condensers which consists ofapplying a pressure in the vi- 7 cinity of thirty pounds per square inch to a condenser, heating the condenser to expel moisture andgases, impregnating the condenser, cooling the condenser, applying a pressure in the (Helm I ity of two pounds per square inch during a portion of the cooling operation, and gradually increasing this pressure.

' 9. A method of manufacturing condensers which consists of applying a preliminary pressure to a condenser, heating the condenser to expel moisture and gases, impregnating the conto a condenser, bakingthe condenser while said pressure is applied, subsequently impregnating the condenser, cooling the condenser, and applying a pressure of a lower order during the cooling thereof.

V momma EDISON crimson. 

